Alastair Cook blames top-order failure for defeat in Kochi ODI

After a humiliating defeat against India in the second ODI at Kochi, England captain Alastair Cook said that it was the early wickets that led to the defeat. Chasing 286, the visitors were skittled out for just 158.

In an interview with bcci.tv, Cook reflected on the defeat.

Cook said that his side were in the chase after a decent start in the first ten overs but Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck thrice to peg them back. He said that any total can be chased provided the team is off to a good start and can consolidate well and conceded that his side failed to do so on Tuesday.

He lauded Joe Root for his performance and said that his top-order’s failure to put some runs on the board led to England’s failure to even get close to the Indian total.

The England captain praised the Indian side for putting the pressure on his batsman from the start and rated MS Dhoni as the best player in slog overs.

First Published on January 16, 2013, 9:47 amLast updated on January 16, 2013, 9:47 am